Turning Passion into Purpose: tyro__a Innovates with LLaMA 3 in the AI Agent Challenge
As a Community Manager at Topcoder, I’m always inspired by the incredible innovation and passion within our global network. Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing tyro__a, one of last year’s standout Topcoder Ambassadors and the 1st place winner of the AI Agent Challenge: Built with LLaMA 3.
Behind the handle is Arunima Belwanshi, a talented prompt engineer from India with a background in computer science and a deep passion for making technology more accessible. Her winning solution was focused on developing an AI-powered career assistant that helps users optimize resumes, prepare for interviews, and explore career paths—all powered by LLaMA 3.
In this interview, Arunima shares her journey into AI/ML, what drives her to compete, and how she built a solution that blends creativity with real-world impact.
Let’s jump into the full conversation:
Can you please provide a brief bio of you?
I am Arunima Belwanshi from India, and I hold a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science Engineering. I began my career as a Software Developer, gaining a year of industry experience before transitioning into freelance work as a Subject Matter Expert. Currently, I work as a Prompt Engineer, where I combine my technical expertise with creative problem-solving. I am deeply passionate about developing tools that empower others and make technology more accessible. Driven by a love for teaching, I also founded the Instagram page @howtocomputerscience, where I share educational content to support and inspire learners in the field.
How long have you been working with AI/ML, and how did you get started?
My journey with AI and Machine Learning began during my undergraduate studies, where I was introduced to the subject as part of my curriculum. I found it deeply intriguing and pursued my interest further by enrolling in a comprehensive AI/ML course on Udemy two years ago to strengthen my foundational skills. As a lifelong learner, I continuously explore advancements in the field. My perspective on AI transformed significantly when I delved into the art of prompt engineering—realizing that AI is not a threat, but a powerful ally when harnessed thoughtfully and creatively.
What motivates you to take part in challenges like this?
Participating in challenges like these fuels both my curiosity and my commitment to continuous learning. I see each competition as an opportunity to push my boundaries, test my skills in real-world scenarios, and grow through creative problem-solving. Challenges like these keep me inspired, connected with a vibrant tech community, and driven to innovate further.
How was your experience during the challenge?
The experience was both challenging and incredibly fulfilling. I built an AI-powered resume builder integrated with mock interview simulations and a job search assistant—all leveraging Llama 3. The main challenge was integrating multiple functionalities seamlessly within a short timeframe. I focused on building a clean, modular architecture and prioritized user experience with clear documentation and a focused demo. The project allowed me to blend creativity with real-world utility, and I learned a lot through rapid iteration.
What part of the challenge did you enjoy the most?
The part I enjoyed the most was the ideation phase. Without a clear, meaningful idea, building anything can feel like working in the dark.
What made this challenge particularly difficult for you?
The tight deadline made this challenge particularly difficult—integrating multiple features like resume building, mock interviews, and job search into a seamless AI tool within just four days required intense focus, fast decision-making, and efficient execution.
Can you give a more detailed explanation of your solution?
Project Title
AI Career Coach— Resume Optimizer, Career Guide, and Mock Interviewer using LLaMA 3
Overview
This AI agent is a multifunctional career assistant that:
Optimizes resumes for specific roles
Provides tailored career path suggestions
Simulates mock interviews and gives feedback
Uses Meta’s LLaMA 3–8B Instruct with efficient 4-bit quantization for low-resource inference
Architecture
User (CLI)
│
├── Resume Optimizer ───> LLaMA 3 (text generation pipeline)
│
├── Career Path Advisor ───> LLaMA 3
│
└── Mock Interview Tool
├── Generate Questions ──> LLaMA 3
└── Answer Evaluation ───> LLaMA 3
Main Functionalities
1. Resume Optimizer
Improves resumes by:
Aligning with job roles
Highlighting achievements
Suggesting ATS-friendly edits
def refine_resume(resume_text, job_role):
prompt = f"""
Improve and optimize the following resume for a {job_role} position:
{resume_text}
...
"""
return text_generator(prompt)[0]['generated_text']
2. Career Guidance Engine
Suggests career paths based on skills and experience.
def career_guidance(skills, experience):
prompt = f"""
Based on these skills and experience, suggest the best career paths:
...
"""
return text_generator(prompt)[0]['generated_text']
3. Mock Interview + Feedback
Simulates questions and evaluates answers.
def mock_interview(job_role):
prompt = f"Generate 5 common interview questions for a {job_role} position..."
return text_generator(prompt)[0]['generated_text']
def interview_feedback(question, user_answer):
prompt = f"Evaluate the following interview answer and provide feedback..."
return text_generator(prompt)[0]['generated_text']
Impact
This solution helps users:
Build targeted, professional resumes
Explore informed career directions
Prepare confidently for interviews
If you could build an AI tool to solve any real-world problem, what would it be?
"AI Ghost Franchise Builder" A tool that automates the entire process of launching profitable micro-businesses with zero upfront inventory or effort.
Are there any last thoughts you’d like to add?
I believe anyone can do or achieve anything once they know that they can. The power of self-belief is truly transformative—when people recognize their own potential, they become unstoppable. It's all about understanding that challenges are not barriers, but opportunities for growth. Once you embrace the idea that you are capable of achieving your goals, the path forward becomes clearer, and the possibilities are endless.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arunima’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when curiosity meets determination. From her passion for teaching to her innovative AI project, tyro__a shows the spirit of the Topcoder community—driven and always learning. I can’t wait to see what she builds next!
Stay tuned for more spotlight stories from our members around the world.